Rep. Bob Wharff

Maddy summaryHB 253 revises Wyoming's construction lien law by changing the timing for preliminary notice requirements. It requires subcontractors and material suppliers to send a notice within 30 days of starting work on a project (before final payment to the general contractor) to preserve their lien rights. Failure to send this notice will bar lien claims, except when the general contractor failed to provide required information under §29-2-113. The bill affects contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers working on construction projects in Wyoming and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Wyoming officials from enforcing any mask, vaccine, or testing requirements related to COVID-19 or its variants based on guidance from the CDC or WHO. It declares these federal and international health organizations have no jurisdiction in Wyoming for such mandates. The law directly affects Wyoming residents, healthcare providers, and state/local officials who might otherwise comply with CDC/WHO recommendations. It does not alter state public health authority or address health measures unrelated to COVID-19.

Maddy summaryHB 247 would require Wyoming cities or towns to obtain written approval from a simple majority of landowners (excluding public streets and tax-exempt property) before annexing their land. It mandates specific notice requirements to landowners and adjacent property owners, and requires cities to provide cost estimates for infrastructure improvements with a 4% cap on actual costs. The bill also extends the appeal period for annexation disputes from 60 to 120 days and modifies notice rules for public hearings. These changes directly affect landowners in annexation zones, local governments, and public utilities.

Maddy summaryHB 287 requires Wyoming counties to reimburse individuals for legal costs (including attorney fees and bail) when they successfully use self-defense in criminal cases and are found not guilty, have charges dismissed, or are released from prosecution. It also mandates courts to automatically expunge all related criminal records in these cases, removing arrest and prosecution history from public records. The bill directly affects people facing criminal charges who defend themselves, streamlining access to reimbursement and record removal through simplified court petitions with no filing fees.

Maddy summaryHB 283 amends Wyoming's Second Amendment Protection Act to prohibit state and local governments from using state funds or personnel to enforce federal firearm regulations that infringe on Second Amendment rights. It creates a $50,000 civil penalty per violation for agencies that enforce or assist in enforcing such federal laws, including for employees who knowingly participate in federal firearm enforcement after July 1, 2025. The bill directly affects Wyoming government agencies, law enforcement, and public officers who might enforce federal firearm rules. Key provisions define "this act," establish liability for violations, and allow civil lawsuits by affected citizens with no sovereign immunity defense.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 99 amends trespass laws to clarify that people do not commit criminal trespass or game/fish trespass when accidentally touching or passing through private land while traveling between two adjacent parcels they're authorized to access - specifically when the parcels share a common corner or are immediately connected. The bill directly affects landowners and individuals traveling across private property for legitimate access to adjacent parcels (e.g., ranchers moving between properties). It creates a clear exception for incidental contact during this specific travel, removing ambiguity about whether such movement violates trespass laws. The change applies only to travel between authorized parcels and does not permit hunting, fishing, or other activities on private land without permission. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 137 requires the Wyoming Board of Land Commissioners to post public notice online for any proposed exchange of state-owned land. It applies to anyone - including government agencies - seeking to swap state land, mandating the Board post notice within 30 days of receiving an application and keep it visible until a final decision is made. The notice must include how the public can access details and submit comments. The law took effect July 1, 2022, with rules to be established by the Board by that date.

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 108 prohibits financial institutions from discriminating against customers based on social credit scores, environmental/social justice metrics, social media activity, political affiliation, union membership, or employer-related factors. The law defines a "social credit score" as a metric based on personal behavior, technology use, and lifestyle choices, and declares its use a deceptive trade practice. Financial institutions may still apply subjective criteria if they fully disclose and explain them in writing before contracts are signed. This law directly affects banks, credit unions, and lenders operating in Wyoming, effective July 1, 2022. It aims to prevent consumer discrimination tied to non-financial personal data.

Maddy summarySF 69 limits annual increases in property tax bills for most property owners in Wyoming by capping the growth of "taxable value" (9.5% of a property's fair market value) at 5% per year. This applies to homes, land, and personal property not in specific exempt categories, excluding increases from improvements or changes made to the property. The limit begins January 1, 2023, preventing sudden large jumps in tax bills due to general market fluctuations. The bill does not change Wyoming's 9.5% tax rate but restricts how quickly the base value used to calculate taxes can grow annually.

Maddy summaryWyoming's HB 81 allows people with disabilities to operate motorcycles with attached wheelchair or assistive devices by amending motorcycle operation rules. The bill removes a previous restriction on handlebar height and explicitly permits attaching assistive devices (as defined in state law) to motorcycles designed for such use. This directly affects disabled motorcycle riders who previously faced equipment limitations. The law took effect on July 1, 2022.